Gracie the Giraffe, who went missing after wandering off a Texas ranch, is finally found
Gracie the Giraffe has finally been found in Texas. She was missing for about two weeks after wandering off a remote private ranch and when she was located Friday, the open range appeared to have agreed with her. Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson said Gracie, who is about 3 years old, was spotted about 4 miles south of her enclosure during an aerial search in the Texas Hill Country. He said Gracie’s owner contacted his veterinarian and began putting together a team to bring the giraffe safely back to the ranch. Ranch owner Vick Jones said she was in good shape and he saw her standing and swishing her tail.
St. Bernard dogs still roam the Swiss Alps as part of this 'living museum' and its breeding program
BOURG-SAINT-PIERRE, Switzerland (AP) — St. Bernard dogs walk the same mountain paths their ancestors patrolled for hundreds of years at the Great St. Bernard Pass in the Swiss Alps. Down in the valley, Barryland, a museum dedicated to the iconic dogs, celebrates its first year. Since opening last summer in Martigny, Switzerland, over 130,000 people have visited. Tourists can watch grooming sessions, use augmented reality to explore the mountain pass, and learn about the dogs' history. The St. Bernards, once famous for mountain rescues, are now too large for such tasks. Instead, they visit hospitals and schools, continuing their legacy of service and companionship.
Will Red Grooms' whimsical, wonderful Tennessee Fox Trot Carousel ride again?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee State Museum in Nashville is considering how to bring a beloved whimsical carousel back to life. The Tennessee Fox Trot Carousel was the creation of Nashville-born artist Red Grooms, featuring imaginative renderings of figures from Tennessee history including Chet Atkins and Davy Crockett. The downtown Nashville riverfront attraction, beset by financial struggles, was dismantled in 2003 and put into storage by the state museum. Museum Executive Director Ashley Howell is trying to find partners to help fund the ride's rehabilitation and admits the most common question she hears from members of the public is: “What about the Red Grooms carousel?”
Merlín the duck takes a trip to the stadium, but FIFA rules keep him out of Mexico match
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A viral sensation from this World Cup, Merlín the duck was at Mexico City's stadium before the national team's match against the Czech Republic. But he ultimately couldn't stay for Wednesday's game. The duck became famous after being seen in downtown Mexico City during celebrations of Mexico's opening victory. Accompanied by his owners Wednesday, Merlín traveled to the stadium under strict security. Although he couldn't stay for the match due to FIFA regulations, he filmed a segment with Televisa. Merlín has become a social media phenomenon and an unofficial mascot, even meeting President Claudia Sheinbaum. Despite not being in the stands, his owners believe Merlín brings luck to the Mexican team.
Paris Diamond League to go ahead with safety measures amid historic heat wave
PARIS (AP) — The Diamond League track and field meeting in Paris will proceed as planned despite a historic heat wave. Organizers have confirmed the event at Charlety Stadium will take place on Sunday. Paris police had requested a cancellation due to the extreme heat affecting the city since June 21. The French athletics federation says the event will be held in an adapted format to ensure safety. Only professional competitions will occur, with other activities canceled. Measures include delaying stadium opening, reinforcing medical services and providing more water and shade. France is under a red weather alert, with temperatures reaching record highs.
Failed robbery on small Caribbean island of Tobago spawns memes and Batman references
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Police in Trinidad and Tobago say they are searching for a group of robbers caught on camera using a backhoe to try and steal a cash machine but bungled the movie-style heist so badly they ended up as memes. Security camera footage shows at least four suspects fumbling around the crime scene. One of them bore a striking resemblance to Batman, wearing all-black clothing, a black ski mask and what looked like a black poncho that blew in the wind like the superhero’s cape. That person is seen tripping over debris and falling on the floor as they try to direct the backhoe. The incident occurred Wednesday.
Guinness crowns Canberra town crier as the world's loudest person at 122.4 decibels
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian professional air conditioner cleaner and honorary town crier has been recognized as the world’s loudest person. Guinness World Records last week acknowledged that Joseph McGrail-Bateup recorded the loudest ever shout by an individual. He yelled “now” at 122.4 decibels. That broke the previous record of 121.7 decibels set by Northern Ireland schoolteacher Annalisa Flanagan in 1994. She had yelled an ear-piercing “quiet.” That is in the noise range of a chain saw, a jet aircraft taking off and an ambulance siren at close range. McGrail-Bateup said Tuesday the record attempt was not something he could train for.
Man arrested in Hungary for collecting human body parts taken from cemeteries, police say
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Police in Hungary have arrested a 30-year-old man for collecting human body parts. Authorities say he gathered the parts from abandoned cemeteries and his hospital workplace. The National Bureau of Investigation arrested him in Budapest on June 17. During a search of his apartment, police found skulls, bones and a heart in a jar. The man admitted to collecting and even cooking the body parts. He is being held on suspicion of illegal use of human bodies. Police suspect he obtained the parts through his work and by digging up bodies in Slovakia and Hungary.
A plan to sell artifacts from the Titanic faces US government opposition
A newly unsealed court filing shows the U.S. government opposes a plan to auction more than 100 artifacts recovered from the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic. The Georgia-based company RMS Titanic Inc. has exclusive salvage rights to the famous wreck, and has extracted dishware, gold coins and even pieces of the ship's hull. It wants to sell some of those artifacts for the first time, despite previous agreements to only display them at museums and traveling exhibitions. It proposed auctioning some artifacts and displaying them in four cities, however the details aren’t public. The U.S. government argues that plan would violate existing court orders and agreements, but the company says it would not.
An ancient oak tree said to have sheltered legendary Robin Hood has died
LONDON (AP) — The 1,200-year-old Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, linked to the legend of Robin Hood, is believed to have died. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has said Thursday that the tree failed to sprout leaves this spring. Visitors to the forest over the years have compressed the soil around it, hindering rain from reaching its roots. The Nottingham forest has faced threats for years, and climate change has also been blamed. Even in death, the tree will remain a natural monument and continue to support the forest's ecosystem.
